WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration asked the Supreme Court to uphold a federal minority set-aside program, apparently delaying an expected fight against affirmative action until a better case comes to the court.

Legal analysts pointed out that, as the government's lawyer, Solicitor General Theodore Olson was legally bound to defend the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program run by the Transportation Department. They also cited a precedent against abrupt policy changes by new presidents in continuing Supreme Court...